The UK has been found to be the location which purchased the most legal highs during the past 12 months out of 50 countries analysed.

Research from the yearly Global Drug Survey has found the highest rate of people buying New Psychoactive Substances – formerly legal highs – is in the UK, with 11.6% of people claiming to have bought them in the past year.

The study found the US was in close second, with 11.2% saying they bought the highs.

Italy ranked the lowest, with only 1.3% admitting to buying now-illegal substances.

The study also found 58% of people admitting to purchasing legal highs did so online.

Legal high crackdown

Police put out a warning after five people have been hospitalised after taking legal highs ‘Annihilation’ and ‘Cherry Bombs’. One man is in an induced coma.

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Legal highs ban comes into force across the UK

Legal highs were banned earlier this year and offenders who break the new laws could face up to seven years in prison.

The drugs have been linked to more than 100 deaths in the UK and users are three times more likely to end up seeking medical treatment after taking legal highs than any other drug.